Cuadrilla Especial 2023

A reserve bottling  made exclusively for Members.  
We take care of our land, holding both CCOF Organic and Demeter Biodynamic certifications. Just as importantly, we take care of our people as well.   
Stolpman is committed to employing its vineyard crew full-time, year-round and our La Cuadrilla profit sharing wine has continued to grow over the past 21 vintages.  Having an experienced and passionate crew allows us to meticulously farm by hand, treating each vine individually as we walk down the rows.  
The larger 2023 La Cuadrilla Red Blend was bottled a year earlier than the Especial and primarily consisted of the first round of declassified Estate lots. For the past 2 years, we’ve added 30% non-estate wine to the main Cuadrilla bottling in order to keep the crew’s bonuses increasing while not raising the price of the bottles.  
Not only is the Especial cuvee 100% Estate grapes, it is culled from only the final round of declassification. These barrels had the potential to make the cut a year earlier, but later just barely lost out to neighboring barrels that showed magically enough to make the cut into our highest end, most limited cuvees. Then blended all together, La Cuadrilla Especial takes on its own juicy, full bodied, delicious character that both over-delivers for our club members and keeps Cuadrilla’s bonuses growing.
Healthy late season rains pushed back bud-break and the growing season by 3-4 weeks.  We escaped the summer without any extreme heat events that would have accelerated ripening.  This moderate weather led to even, slow sugar accumulation. October weather warmed up and pushed the vines through the finish line for a smooth, seamless, and plush vintage that still carries plenty of bright energy.
Dark and mysterious, voluptuous and plump with strawberry syrup presaging a yummy juiciness in the mouth.  On the palate, the segway from black to red continues, with a bump of succulent cherry fruit ending in a crack of pepper. Boysenberry and thick cut, marbled, dry rubbed steak fleshes out the mid-palate. A touch of ripe stems takes the form of a forested misty fern grove that gives a cinching finish alongside young tannin.